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GOP vows to 'save America,' boost Mitt

One speaker after another, many of them drawn from the ranks of recently elected Republican governors, had to meld a sales pitch for Romney’s campaign with the more familiar message of austerity-era Republicanism.

The loudest applause of the evening, prior to the primetime speeches, came for Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, the budget-slashing, union-fighting Midwesterner who became a national conservative icon thanks to his victory in this year’s savage recall campaign.

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He christened Romney and Ryan as the ticket that would “save America,” wielding the stark, severe language that has been the hallmark of the GOP since 2010 – but not necessarily the stock in trade of the Romney campaign.

Romney has hugged an austerity-first message since choosing Ryan as his running mate earlier this month. Yet while he has embraced Ryan’s posture of boldness, he has not detailed with great specificity his own policies to transform the budget and economy – nor has Romney pledged to pursue the program supported by Ryan and other congressional Republicans.

That didn’t stop leaders of the 2010 conservative revolution from presenting Romney as one of their own.

“We need someone to turn things around in America,” Walker said, repeatedly drawing roars from the crowd. “Now, more than ever, we need reformers – leaders who think more about the next generation than just the next election. That’s what you get from Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan.”

Another Republican governor elected in 2010, Ohio’s John Kasich, framed the GOP case in similar terms, calling it tome for politicians to “lead … and do what is necessary.”

“If there is anything we need in government today, it’s people who understand how to create jobs, plain and simple. And the people who criticize folks in business simply don’t get it,” Kasich said.

For all the anticipation surrounding Christie and Ann Romney, the convention still opened under the shadow of Hurricane Isaac. After forcing a cancelation of Monday’s events here in Tampa, the storm veered north and west toward New Orleans. It made landfall with high winds just as the evening convention speeches were getting underway.

Obama gave a statement from the White House this morning to urge citizens in the storm’s path to take precautions for their own safety. Romney spoke by phone with Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, who scrapped plans to appear at the convention in order to prepare for Isaac’s arrival in his state.

Speaking to delegates Tuesday afternoon, Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus began with an acknowledgment of the developing situation in the Gulf.

“First, I would like to offer our thoughts and prayers for the safety of all those in the pathway of the hurricane,” Priebus said.

The storm wasn’t the only disruptive force surrounding the convention: so, too, were the supporters of libertarian Rep. Ron Paul, who interrupted the goings-on several times Tuesday afternoon to protest changes to party rules.

In moments of disorder on the convention floor, Paul supporters jeered GOP leaders who refused to seat pro-Paul delegates from the state of Maine. They also protested a decision to force states to hold binding primaries and caucuses, potentially stopping candidates like Paul from harvesting more delegates than democratic contests award them.

None of that, however, derailed the process of formally approving Romney and Ryan’s nominations. Indeed, it was one of the week’s first truly festive moments when Romney crossed the mark of 1,144 delegate votes and formally became the Republican nominee for president.

As the states voted in alphabetical order, it was the New Jersey delegation that put Romney over the top.

I found it strange that New Jersey would have had the "honor" of putting Mitt over the top. I think Michigan, Wisconsin or Florida would have been a better choice. I don't think I'm mis-remembering that in previous conventions a state was chosen with more symbolic importance - a swing state or a candidate's home state. This was a careful piece of choreography - other states would yield as they approached the nominating figure so that the pre-selected state would put them over the top.

Can anyone tell me what happens if the official nominee for any reason pulls out after they have got past this stage of the process? The VP nominee automatically become the Presidential nominee or does it go back to the party to nominate someone else. Do the Dems and the GOP have the same rules on this? Has it actually happened?

Republicans have become terrorist to this nation! Even going as low as trying to keep some legal people from voting in the swing states. Cutting early voting hours and other schemes. You would think they would try and give people more time to vote! If you are a U.S. citizen who was born outside of a hospital with no birth certificate your out of luck!

Well, Big Whoop! There's truly a "line drawn in the sand" now. Perhaps, just perhaps, Mitt will now actually SAY what he plans to DO as President -- all I've heard from him are declarations, announcements, pronouncements, and proclamations of all he's planning -- have yet to hear how he plans to actually DO any of it. Just don't see it happenin'........

“I read somewhere that Mitt and I have a ‘storybook marriage.’ Well, in the storybooks I read, there were never long, long, rainy winter afternoons in a house with five boys screaming at once. And those storybooks never seemed to have chapters called MS or Breast Cancer,” Romney said, alluding to her personal health battles. “A storybook marriage? No, not at all. What Mitt Romney and I have is a real marriage.”

Thank you Ann Romney for sharing Mitt Romney with the nation and for telling him to become our 45th POTUS.